Dunedin is expected to be announced today as the venue for the enticing clash between England and Argentina in the Rugby World Cup, with the English side set to be based in the city for more than three weeks.
Officials from the Argentina Rugby Union were in the city yesterday, inspecting the new Forsyth Barr Stadium as well as training facilities at Carisbrook and the University Oval.
Stadium officials declined to comment on the the visit, while Otago Rugby Football Union officials would not confirm any visit from the delegation.
The new schedule for the world cup matches is expected to be released today, with Dunedin getting another match, meaning the city will host the England team for three matches, bringing in thousands of supporters.
England will kick off its series of matches with a game against Argentina in Dunedin at the stadium on September 10, a day after the All Blacks begin the tournament in Auckland.
Both England and Argentina made it to the semifinals at the last world cup in France.
The game against Argentina will be followed just over a week later by another English game, this time against Georgia.
The game between Scotland and Georgia, which was scheduled for Dunedin on September 14, will be switched to Invercargill on the same date, giving Invercargill three games.
England will then round out its time in the South by playing its scheduled game against Romania in Dunedin on September 24.
The final match in Dunedin, the last game of pool play, between Ireland and Italy, will be played on October 2.
With Christchurch out of action because of last month's earthquake, world cup organisers have had to reschedule five pool games and two quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals went to Auckland, but getting England for three games is a coup for Dunedin and will be a boon to the southern economy.
England is expected to bring the highest number of tourists - projected at more than 10,000 - to New Zealand for the world cup. However, many of them may not come until the later stages of the competition.
World cup organisers are also due to announce formally that the games in Dunedin will be played at the new stadium.
They were originally listed to be played at Carisbrook but, with the stadium's construction on schedule, they will be switched to the new venue.
